Venue Owners Guide

This guide is to help you and your clients book a professional mobile disco or karaoke. We explain why this directory will be of use to you, along with what checks you may need to carry out to safeguard your business and your licence.

Public Liability Insurance (PLI)

We recommend that you always book a DJ who has this as it safeguards you and your clients against any accidents involving the entertainer or their equipment. If you book an entertainer who has no cover, you may end up finding yourself being taken to court by the injured person. In our opinion this is the most important cover that an entertainer must have and an individual who is not covered has no interest in other peoples well being or safety. We personally would not book a DJ who was not covered. PLI is not expensive and there are many companies that offer this type of policy with cover ranging from £1 million pounds upwards.

The Mobile Disco Directory can help you at a glance choose an entertainer who is covered by using the system on our directory. All companies that have cover must send us proof of their policies to have their business entry updated. When their policy expires, they must send proof of their new cover to maintain their listing. This system helps you choose a safe entertainer.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

PAT testing is not yet a legal requirement but is recommended that you choose an entertainer who has their equipment tested. PAT testing is carried out by a qualified electrical professional who ensures that equipment is operating correctly and in a safe manner. PAT testing is very much like an MOT for your car, except it is an annual test carried out on electrical equipment. Some venues like local councils will not allow entertainers to work in their venues without proof of PAT testing. Again PAT testing is not expensive and will help you choose a DJ who takes health and safety seriously.

Once again the Mobile Disco Directory can help you choose an entertainer who has their equipment PAT tested by using our directory.

Please Note: Most PAT equipment testers will simply issue a certificate to say when the equipment is due for test or was tested. Also do not assume that if there is no sticker that the gear isn't tested for safety, the details may be listed on a test certificate instead of labelled on the equipment. Also you may find the entertainer has hired the equipment from a hire supplier who may well have their own independent engineer to test the equipment each time it is used, in which case an annual PAT test isn't appropriate, if so he / she should be able to provide a copy of the service record for each item in their inventory & if you ask for a copy of this record for proof they should supply it.

Examples of PAT tested stickers that can be displayed on tested equipment.